"Ah, Wilderness"
---- New Village Arts Theatre
opens its 11th season with Eugene O'Neill's only comedy, a
coming-of-age tale set on the Fourth of July in rural Connecticut;
previews, Thursday and Friday; opens Saturday and runs through Aug.
28; showtimes, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m.
Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; New Village arts, 2787 State St.,
Carlsbad; $25-$40; newvillagearts.org or 760-433-3245.

"The Best of Broadway ---- It Takes Two"
----
The Welk Resorts Theatre presents the L.A.-based husband-and-wife
team of Stan and Kirsten Chandler in a program of Broadway show
tunes; 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; through Aug. 31; Welk
Resorts Theatre, Welk Resorts San Diego, 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive,
Escondido; $45 (buffet lunch option available); 888-802-7469 or
welktheatresandiego.com.

Blue Man Group
---- In its first national tour,
the musical/theatrical troupe is a trio of men painted blue who
play music on homemade instruments; 7 p.m. Sept. 20 and 21; 7:30
p.m. Sept. 22; 8 p.m. Sept. 23; 2 and 8 p.m. Sept. 24; 1 and 6 p.m.
Sept. 25; San Diego Civic Theatre, Third Avenue at B Street, San
Diego; 619-570-1100 or broadwaysd.com .

"Dancing Naked in the Rain"
---- New Vision
Theatre Company presents the Southern California premiere of Neal
Metcalf's drama about the last year of D.H. Lawrence's life, when
he was writing the controversial novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover";
7:30 p.m. Sept. 9, 10, 16 and 17; 2 p.m. Sept. 11 and 18; Sunshine
Brooks Theatre, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside; $17, general; $14,
seniors; $10, military and students (not recommended for children
under 12); 760-908-2773.

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show
---- Voted the best dinner show in L.A. and Denver from 2007-2010,
this new San Diego dinner theater program hides its actors among
the diners for a surprise murder-mystery that will keep the
audience guessing to the end; shows begin at 7:15 p.m. Fridays and
6:15 p.m. Saturdays; show dates are Aug. 13 and 27, Sept. 10 and
24; Courtyard Marriott Downtown San Diego, 530 Broadway St., San
Diego; $62.95 (includes dinner);
dinnerdetective.com/sites/san-diego/ .

"Godspell Jr."
---- Stage 2 Productions, a new
North County teen theater company, presents its debut production of
Stephen Schwartz's musical based on the New Testament gospel of
Matthew, featuring 25 youth from San Diego and Southwest Riverside
counties; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Monday; Hearth Theatre, San Marcos Civic
Center, Civic Center Drive, San Marcos; $10, adults and seniors;
$7, children under 12; 760-806-7905.

Hershey Felder in "Maestro: The Art of Leonard
Bernstein"
---- The actor/playwright/pianist presents the
San Diego premiere of his one-man show based on the life and music
of the iconic conductor and composer of "West Side Story,"
"Candide" and more; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays
and Sundays; 7 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; through Aug.
28; The Old Globe, Balboa Park, San Diego; $39-$90; theoldglobe.org
or 619-234-5623.

"How the World Began"
---- South Coast
Repertory presents Catherine Trieschmann's drama about a biology
teacher from New York who causes a stir when she questions the
biblical origin-of-life concept while teaching at a small-town
Oklahoma high school; previews, Sept. 25-29; opens Sept. 30 and
runs through Oct. 16; showtimes, 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays; 2 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays; Julianne Argyros Stage, South Coast
Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa; $20-$66; scr.org or
714-708-5555.

"Mary Poppins"
---- The Broadway production of
this Disney musical in its first North American tour is the story
of a magical nanny who up-ends the order in a staid Victorian
London banker's home; opens Wednesday and runs through Aug. 21;
showtimes, 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7:30
p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays; San Diego Civic Theatre,
Third Avenue at B Street, San Diego; tickets start at $20;
800-982-2787.

"Odyssey"
---- The Old Globe presents the world
premiere of Todd Almond and Lear deBessonet's musical theater event
that reimagines Homer's epic poem as seen through the lens of
contemporary San Diego; 8 p.m. Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2; Lowell
Davies Festival Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego;
619-234-5623.

"Oliver!"
---- Dramantiks LLC presents a
youth-cast production of Lionel Bart's Tony-winning musical based
on the story of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist"; 7 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday and Aug. 11 and 12; St. John Church Auditorium,
1001 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas; $10, adults; $5, children and
seniors; www.dramantiks.com.

"The Rocky Horror Show"
---- The Old Globe
presents a revival version of Richard O'Brien's camp, sexy sci-fi
musical about a pair of sheltered young newlyweds who stumble one
dark and stormy night upon a castle with a cross-dressing
transvestite who creates a Frankenstein-style monster; opens Sept.
15 and runs through Nov. 6; showtimes, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays;
2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 7 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays; The Old Globe, Balboa Park, San Diego; $39-$90;
theoldglobe.org or 619-234-5623.

"Somewhere"
---- The Old Globe presents the
West Coast premiere of Matthew Lopez's play with dance about an
artistic Puerto Rican family in 1959 New York whose life is
uprooted when their neighborhood is bulldozed to make way for
Lincoln Center; opens Sept. 24 and runs through Oct. 30; showtimes,
8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 7 p.m.
Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre,
The Old Globe complex, Balboa Park, San Diego; $39-$90;
theoldglobe.org or 619-234-5623.

"The Sound of Music"
---- Patio Playhouse
presents an adult-cat production of this Rodgers and Hammerstein
musical about a wayward novitiate in Austria at the dawn of World
War II as part of the Plays in the Park outdoor theater season in
Kit Carson Park; 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Aug. 11-13, 18-20,
25-27; performances on Sunday, Aug. 17 and 24 are audience
sing-along nights; Kit Carson Park amphitheater, 3333 Bear Valley
Parkway, Escondido; $19, general; $16, seniors and students with
ID; $10, youth under 16; 760-746-6669 or patioplayhouse.org or
pitpescondido.com .

"Susurrus"
---- La Jolla Playhouse kicks off
its "Without Walls" site-specific theater series with the San Diego
premiere of David Leddy's walk-through audio drama, where audiences
will follow a story on a mapped route through the garden where they
hear snippets of interwoven conversations, opera music, and more on
an iPod; opens Sept. 16 and runs through Oct. 2; the 90-minute
theater tours leave every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursdays-Sundays; San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens
Drive, Encinitas; lajollaplayhouse.org or 858-550-1010.

"The Tempest"
---- The Old Globe 2011
Shakespeare Festival presents William Shakespeare's romance about a
castaway wizard who tries to control the lives of his daughter, his
servants and the shipwrecked sailors on an enchanted island; play
rotates in repertory with "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Amadeus"; 8
p.m. Sunday and Aug. 13, 18, 19, 23, 24, 28, Sept. 1, 6, 10, 15,
16, 21, 23 and 25; Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, The Old Globe,
Balboa Park, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego; $29-$85; 619-234-5623
or theoldglobe.org.
Critic's Choice.

"Walter Cronkite Is Dead"
---- San Diego
Repertory Theatre preesnts the West Coast premiere of Joe Calarco's
comedy about two women of very opposite political viewpoints and
social, education and income status who find a surprising
commonality while stranded together at an airport during a
blizzard; opens Sept. 17 and runs through Oct. 16; showtimes, 7
p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays;
2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, San
Diego; $37-$57, general; $18, students; sdrep.org or
619-544-1000.

African dance class
---- Anna Alcorn teaches
West African dance to the music of live drums from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Mondays in June and 7 to 8:30 p.m. in July; Heritage Hall, 122 W.
Ash St., Fallbrook; $10 per class or 5 classes for $40;
760-845-1721.

Hustle San Diego Club
---- Hustle dance party
with lessons for beginners; 7 p.m. on the second Saturdays of the
month; Dance North County of San Diego, 535 Encinitas Blvd., Suite
100, Encinitas; $5-$7; www.hustlesd.org or 760-942-6362.

Inclusive dance for the disabled
---- Positive
Action Community Theatre in Encinitas is now offering inclusive
dance programs for teens and adults with disabilities at Dance
North County, 535 Encinitas Blvd., Suite 101, Encinitas;
760-815-8512.

Social dance party
---- USA Dance hosts a
monthly, all-ages, all-levels dance party with lessons included
(ballroom, Latin, swing, salsa and other styles); 7-11 p.m. on the
first Saturdays of the month (lesson begins at 7); Dance North
County, 535 Encinitas Blvd., Suite 100, Encinitas; $7;
760-525-5124.

Swing & Ballroom dance party
---- Mary
Manzella and the North County Swing & Ballroom Dance Club host
a dance party with free two-step lessons included; 7 to 11 p.m. the
third Saturdays of the month (lesson begins at 7); Dance North
County, 535 Encinitas Blvd., Suite 100, Encinitas; $12;
619-229-0141.

TGIF Dances
--- Escondido Elks Lodge invites
Elks and guests to twice-monthly line dancing parties to live
music, held on the first and third Fridays of each month; 5 to 10
p.m.; Escondido Elks Lodge, 2430 S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido; $10
at door (includes lessons); 760-745-1687.

"Backfired"
---- Curtain Call Company is
looking for five men and four women for its next murder mystery
dinner theatre production, this time set at a retirement dinner for
a fire captain; the show will be performed once a month for six
months at the Firehouse Broiler restaurant in Fallbrook; for
audition appointment, call Mary Fry at 760-685-7386.

San Diego North Coast Singers
---- The
120-member youth chorus will hold auditions for the 2011-2012
season by appointment on Aug. 20; the choir is directed by Sally
Husch Dean and features students in grades 2 to 12 in four
ensembles ranging from beginning to advanced; for an audition
appointment, call 760-944-1866 or e-mail Miel@northcoastsingers.com
.

Actors Who Write
--- San Diego Actors Theatre
will hold ongoing auditions for actors interested in performing
their original writing at venues in Encinitas and San Diego's
Little Italy this fall; to be considered, send a picture, resume
and brief writing sample by Sept. 1 to Patricia Elmore Costa at
sdactors@san.rr.com .

Center Stage Senior Theater
---- New nonprofit
North County performing arts group for seniors is auditioning for
members to entertain for special occasions and organizations;
seniors who can dance, sing, do comedy or have other specialty
talents are invited to contact co-founders Lynnell Nelson and
Margaret Olson, who are longtime dance teachers and experienced
performers; 760-941-9211 or 760-754-4866.

Encinitas School of Music Flute Choir
---- The
Encinitas School of Music is seeking flutists of all ages for its
flute choir program. Musicians should have played for at least two
years. The year-round program includes clinics, field trips and
concerts. The group meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. There is a $40
monthly fee (or $10 per session); 775 Orpheus Ave., Encinitas; call
Ron Ebel at 760-757-3096 or esom.org. .

Encinitas School of Music Big Band
----
Students who have played saxophone, trombone, piano, bass, guitar
and drums for at least two years are invited to join this
Encinitas-based all-ages ensemble; call Jack Hill at 760-612-5299
or visit ww.esom.org.

Kids Act! Youth Theater workshop
---- Five-day
summer youth acting workshops begin June 14 for three different age
brackets (4-6, 7-11 and 12-16) taught by Aleta Barthell, a member
of the Screen Actors Guild, Television and Radio Artists Guild and
Writers Guild of America; classes are held in three locations: New
Village Arts Theatre, 2787B State St., Carlsbad; Encinitas
Community Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas; Carmel
Valley Rec Center, 3777 Townsgate Drive, San Diego; 760-635-3340 or
aletabarthell.com.

New Village Arts acting classes
---- Ongoing
acting program features techniques taught at the Actors Studio
Drama School, including relaxation and sensory exercises as well as
scene study; 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays in
Carlsbad; call for fees; 760-439-3784 or
www.newvillagearts.org.

Teen film/TV acting workshops
---- Acting coach
Al Valletta offers a 12-week acting workshop for actors ages 10 to
17 who want to pursue a career in film and television. Ongoing
classes meet from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Star Theatre in
Oceanside, and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Rising Stars
Studio in Solana Beach. A separate class for older teens meets from
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in Solana Beach. Cost is $275 for 12
weeks; 760-941-3208.

Civic Youth Orchestra
---- The nonprofit
training program for young musicians has a new conductor, Greg
Lawrence, and a new rehearsal location at the San Marcos Senior
Center, 111 Richmar Ave., San Marcos. Lawrence will instruct the
Chamber Strings and Intermediate Strings Orchestra. For
information, call 760-728-1977.

Encinitas School of Music Flute Choir
----
Flutists who've played for at least one year are invited to join
instructor Ron Ebel's program, which includes clinics, field trips
and concerts year-round; the choir practices at 7 p.m. Mondays at
775 Orpheus Ave., Encinitas; call Ebel at 760-757-3095.

Fallbrook Chamber Orchestra
---- This
8-year-old chamber music ensemble directed by Art Blodgett is
seeking musicians for its 2010-2011 season; rehearsals are held
from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays at Community Baptist Church, 731 S.
Stagecoach Lane, Fallbrook; contact Elizabeth Monacelli at
760-723-5544.

First United Methodist Church of Escondido Children's
and Youth Choirs
---- The church is seeking young singers
from grades 1 through 12 for its two junior choirs. Rehearsals for
the Children's Choir (grades 1-5) under the direction of Kathleen
Sand are at 5 p.m. Wednesdays; rehearsals for the Youth Choir
(grades 6-12) under the direction of Benjamin Peck are at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesdays; 341 S. Kalmia St., Escondido; no reservations or
auditions are required; 760-745-5100.

Guitar Ensemble
---- Encinitas guitarist and
teacher Peter Pupping is forming a summer ensemble for eight to 12
amateur guitarists interested in developing techniques and learning
to play reggae and surf music confidently in group settings; group
will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays, through Aug. 15 at Ranch View
Baptist Church, 415 Rancho Santa Fe Road, Encinitas; $200;
760-943-0755 or peter@guitarsounds.com .

Music Men chorale and a cappella chorus
----
The Palomar Pacific Music Men barbershop harmony chorus is seeking
new members for its choir and a cappella ensemble; no audition
required; all male voice types welcome; group meets at 7 p.m.
Tuesdays; Salvation Army facility, 1301 Las Villas Way, Escondido;
760-839-6518.

The Music Men Barbershop Chorus
---- The choir
is seeking male singers; auditions will be held at the group's
rehearsals, 7 p.m. Tuesdays; San Marcos Senior Center, 111 Richmar
Ave., San Marcos; 760-839-6518.

North Coastal New Horizons Band
---- The Museum
of Making Music and director Allison Hargis oversee the Carlsbad
affiliate of the National New Horizons Band, an ensemble for
musicians primarily over age 50; band rehearses at 7 p.m.
Wednesdays; 5790 Armada Drive, Carlsbad; for details, visit
ncnhband.org or call 760-438-5996.

Pacific Coast Harmony
---- This men's
barbershop chorus is seeking talented singers who can sing a
cappella and in harmony; 619-427-6669.

Poway Community Symphony Orchestra
---- This
community orchestra for ages 18 and up, led this year by University
of San Diego and Grossmont College professor Branden Muresan, is
seeking new musicians; no audition necessary; rehearsals are held
from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays at Room 501, Bernardo Heights Middle
School, 129909 Paseo Lucido, Rancho Bernardo; 858-748-5131, ext.
2613.

Rancho Penasquitos Flute Choir
---- New members
are sought for the group's Wednesday evening sessions; all levels
of adult flute players are welcome to the choir, led by local
musician and recording artist Bradley Leighton; 858-484-8609 or
visit www.fluteguy.com.

San Diego A Cappella Chorus
---- The choir will
hold auditions for girls ages 11 to 17 in all vocal ranges; the
choir rehearses every Tuesday in Rancho Bernardo; call for audition
appointment, 858-717-0262.

San Diego Master Chorale
---- Experienced
singers are invited to audition by sitting in on the rehearsals
from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays at First United Methodist Church, 2111
Camino del Rio South, San Diego; audition appointments at
858-581-2203.

San Diego North Coast Singers
---- The
120-member youth chorus directed by Sally Husch Dean features
students in grades 2 to 12 in four ensembles ranging from beginning
to advanced; for audition information, call 760-944-1866 or visit
northcoastsingers.com .

San Diego Youth Philharmonic Orchestra
---- The
advanced ensemble is holding auditions for strings, winds, brass
and percussion students up to age 25; rehearsals are from 7 to 9
p.m. Tuesdays at Mt. Carmel High School in Rancho Penasquitos; for
an audition appointment, call 858-673-0217.

San Diego Youth Symphony and Symphonic
Orchestra
---- Musicians ages 7 to 25 are invited to
audition for positions in the orchestra; artistic director Jeff
Edmons directs both the Youth Symphony and more advanced Symphonic
Orchestra; ensembles rehearse on weekends from September through
June; 619-233-3232.

Southwest Women's Chorus
---- The
Temecula-based community women's choir is seeking new singers;
beginners welcome; music-reading ability desirable but not
required; Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St.,
Temecula; for reservation appointment, call 951-926-4100.

Symphonic orchestra
---- The Civic Youth
Orchestra is forming a new youth symphony (with strings, woodwinds,
brass and percussion) to provide a symphonic experience for music
students not yet at the CYO level; rehearsals are from 1 to 3 p.m.
Saturdays at Palomar College; for audition information, visit
www.sandiegocyo.org or call Rebecca Washburn, 858-484-9635.

Valley Center-Pauma Community Orchestra
----
Adult and youth string and woodwind players are needed for this
chamber ensemble, which will perform works by Bach, Handel, Mozart,
Faure and John Williams; meetings are 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at
Valley Center Upper Elementary School; $70 sign-up fee;
760-749-4218.

Village Presbyterian Church Junior Choir
----
Children in grades one to six are invited to audition for the
program for its choir festivals and musicals; rehearsals, 4:30-5:30
p.m. Sundays; 6225 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe;
760-739-0706.